Aircraft

Silver Wing Aircraft Co 1928 monoplane

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In 1928 the Silver Wing Aircraft Co built a two-place, open cockpit, high-wing monoplane, designed by H C King. It utilized a Curtiss JN-4 fuselage and gear. Spin-proof, the company claimed, with a heavy, laminated spar that would withstand dives up to 175mph. Only one was built, registered N5268 c/n SWM-100.

First flown on 15 April 1928, piloted by Edward Euler, it was powered by a 90hp Curtiss OX-5, later changed to a 50hp Wright-Hisso engine.

Press releases told of two cabin versions under construction, but were apparently unfinished.

90hp Curtiss OX-5
Wingspan: 41’3″
Length: 26’9″
Useful load: 682 lb
Max speed: 110 mph
Cruise: 90 mph
Stall: 32 mph
Seats: 2

150hp Wright-Hisso
Wingspan: 41’3″
Useful load: 968 lb
Seats: 2

Silverston Vacu-Aerial / Flying Machine No. 2 / Milwaukee Flying Machine No. 2

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Silverston Vacu-Aerial” Flying Machine No. 2 of 1912 was also known as Dr. Rudolph Silverston’s Milwaukee Flying Machine No. 2. The photo caption reads “Pendulum system 120hp engine.”

According to historical reports, the good doctor had a school of aviation in Milwaukee, and persuaded a number of local investors to support construction of a machine of his devising, which seems to have been an early ducted fan type. The first was a failure; the second (shown) likewise refused to fly, whereupon Dr. Silverston left town with no forwarding address.

Silvaire Aircraft Co

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At end of Second World War production tooling for Model 8 Silvaire was moved by Luscombe Airplane Corporation to Dallas, Texas. In 1949 Luscombe company was brought by Temco Aircraft Corporation which built about 50 Silvaires. In 1955 the above-named company acquired rights and equipment for Model 8 Silvaire, inaugurated production at Fort Collins, Colorado, and flew first aircraft off line September 1956.

In 1962 Alaska International Corp acquired from Silvaire Aircraft Company all rights to the Luscombe Silvaire two-seat all-metal light aircraft.

Sikorsky S-44 / PBS

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After a two-year construction period the Sikorsky XPBS-1 (Model S-44) 9995 first flew on 23 August 1937. Initial testing with 1050 hp engines revealed a top speed of 227 mph. Stability problems traced to turbulence generated by the wings resulted in the addition of dihedral to the horizontal stabilisers. After being delivered to the Navy in October 1937, the XPBS-1 began competitive trials with the Consolidated XPBY2-1 in mid-1938. Consolidated won a construction order and the XPBS-1 was assigned to Patrol Wing 5 at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, to evaluate long-range patrol-bomber operations until shortly after the US entered World War II. In the spring of 1942 the aircraft was reassigned to VR-2 out of California for transport duties between the West Coast and Hawaiian Islands. On 30 June 1942, while returning from Pearl Harbor, the XPBS-1 struck a log in San Francisco Bay and sank. All on board escaped safely, the passengers including Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander of the Pacific Fleet.

Major elements of the design went into the VS-44A.

Engines: four 1200hp P&W Wasp
Wingspan: 124’0″
Length 76’2″
Max speed: 227 mph
Stall: 64 mph
Range: 4030 mi
Ceiling: 20,800′